Ubud Spas

Ubud is famous for many things including health spas. On saturday I did a mini tour of some of the downtown Ubud spas. I used a combo of personal observation and brochure info to get an idea of what’s on offer.

The first spa I hit was Ubud Bodyworks Center, located on Jl. Hanoman.

Located right on the street, Bodyworks leads back through a typically Balinese compound to the small rear massages rooms.

Here’s what the brochure says.“The original Bodyworks Center in Bali is dedicated to spiritual healing in all aspects of its functions. Whether you are passing through as a guest for a massage and beauty treatment, or a staff member, this sacred space is a place to rebalance the positive and negative energies in you and the universe.

We offer a variety of massage including Balinese traditional oils, reflexology, deep tissue, acupressure, body balance, Swedish techiniques and skin exfoliation for toxin removal. With 20 years of experience in natural healing and massage, Ketut Arsana Mahatma Therapist, has trained his staff to meet your needs.

The founder, Ketut Arsana was passed ther gift of spiritual knowledge and natural healing from his grandfather. Ketut’s knowledge is enriched with insight into the sacrd inner light healing technique called Buddha Kevcapi. He is devoted to spritual service to you and to all who seek the sacred path. When you come to the Bodyworks Center, know that you have enterred the gateway to ‘heal yourself.”

Nur Salon is located on Jl. Hanoman almost across the street from Bodyworks. Next to the stone capped entrance way, is a large boulder, with Nur Salon written in gold letters.

To get to the massage area you walk through a Balinese garden
area. This definitely feels like a Balinese local’s place rather than a fancy spa. The staff are very friendly, the massage rooms lined up in a row.

Nur Traditional Beauty Salon was established in 1978. The massage oils, splashes, soaps, scrubs, and hair conditioners are all formulated and produced by Nur using combinations of flowers and fruits. Ibu Nur mastered the art of herbology and jamu (traditional herbal medicine) in her native province of Sumatra. Later while living in Java she expanded her knowledge of body work and beauty techniques, which she has passed on to her skilled staff. No chemicals are used in any of these handcrafted products.

The massage oils, soaps, conditioners, scrubs and beauty preparations are available for purchase and are packaged in handmade paper and glass.

Treatments include:

•Traditional Balinese Massage Rempah Bath/ LulurTime: 90 minutes.1. A complete body massage with an oil chosen according to the need of the client (eg. coconut cleansing oil, sandalwood oil)2. A complete body cleansing. Dead cells are removed with scrub made from Javanese herbs ground into a paste.3. The body is then rubbed with fresh yoghurt.4. Relax for 20 minutes in a luxurious flower petal bath infused with special herbs and botanical essences to detoxify and clear your skin. This is especially recommended for jet lag.5. A luxurious body lotion is applied to finish off your treatment.

Milk Bath (Mandi Susu)Time: 90 minutes

1. A complete body massage with an oil chosen according to the need of the client.2. A complete body cleansing, dead cells are removed with a special scrub.3. The body is then rubbed with fresh yoghurt.4. Soak in a milk bath designed to soothe, nourish and freshen the skin.5. A luxurious body lotion is applied to finish off your treatment.

Traditional Seaweed Massage (Rumput Laut)Time: 90 minutes

1. A complete body massage with an oil chosen according to the
need of the client.2. A body scrub using the extracts from mineral rich seaweeds which help reduce wrinkles and clarify the skin. The scrub removes dead skin cells, thus making your skin smooth and very soft.3. The body is then rubbed with fresh yoghurt.4. Relax for 20 minutes in a luxurious flower petal bath, infused with special herbs and botancial essenses to detoxify and clear your skin. This is especially recommended for jey lag.5. A luxurious body lotion is applied to finish off your treatment.

Traditional Javanese Massage:Time: 2 hours

1. A complete body massage with oils specially made by Nur.2. A body scrub using the extracts from mineral rich seaweeds which help reduce wrinkles and clarify the skin.3. The body is then rubbed with fresh yoghurt.4. Unwind and relax in a warm bath filled with 7 kinds of special flowers.5. Finish your treatment with a body splash made by Nur from a special combination of flowers and fruits.

Papaya Bath (Mandi pepaya)Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

1. A complete body massage with oils specially made by Nur.2. A complete body cleansing. Dead cells are removed with a special papaya scrub.3. The body is then rubbed with fresh yoghurt.4. Relax for 20 minutes in a luxurious flower petal bath.5. Finish your treatment with a luxurious body lotion.

Deep Healing Massage
We have a new masseur who can give you deep healing massage to improve your circulation and help heal parts of your body which may feel stressed or very tired. His work is different from the usual massage we offer, morel ike the style of a chiropractor or choosing to work with a Rolfer. After only session with Made, we believe you will notice diferences in your energy and your health.

Boreh: A new natural therapy service for our clients.Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

For those interested in natural therapies, we invite you to experience a uniquely Balinese form; Boreh. Boreh is a traditional treatment that utilizes the healing and purifying properties of time honored herbs. Fresh herbs are hand grown and then skillfully combined into a paste. The combination of herbs and sequence in which the paste is applied to the body, is determined by the condition being treated. As an example, when treating bronchitis, the mixture is placed only form the knees down and left for an hour. It is then reomved with warm water. The mixture we have chosen, a combination of yin and yang herbs, is a general tonic used for centuries by the privelaged, to keep them looking young and beautiful. Applied from the neck down, the herbs acts together synergistically to produce a deep heat that activated in the body in a specific sequence. The mixture is then removed, and the body is rubbed with fresh papaya, which exfoliates and moisturizes the skin, leaving it fresh and beautifully clean. The papaya is rinced off with warm and cold water alternately to tonify. To complete this treatment, a luxurious and relaxing floral bath adds the final touch. Boreh istraditionally performed in the morning.

Hair TreatmentTime: 1 hour

After shampooing, a traditional Javanese herbal conditioning creme is applied and massaged into your hair. Also included in this treatment is neck and shoulders massage.

Soma Spa
Soma Spa is located on Monkey Forest Rd. This place is jointly owned by the attached hotel and another interest. The staff are attentive and polite, the atmosphere more like a neat and tidy hotel, than a Balinese local place. Massage rooms are large and bright.

Ubud Inn & Spa is a hotel and a spa and features a lovely garden on the way to the spa. The hotel has a relaxed atmosphere and the Balinese staff help create a Balinese rather than western type atmosphere. The actual spa is partially open air and very simple. Not a luxurious spa by any means, but the staff are pleasant.

This is the former home of German artist Walter Spies. The lobby leads you immediately to a view of the Wos Barat river, over jungle like terrain. One feels that just sitting a sipping a tea in this environment would do you good.

Stone steps lead down from the lobby, towards the swimming pool and spa. Close to the spa, the steps become a stream, and end up taking you through a tunnel of sculpted creatures into the spa. Its almost a Salvador Dali version of what a spa should look like.

Neat steam rooms and saunas are built into the cliff, massage rooms overlooking the river valley.

•Mountain Ritual – A soothing treatment begins with an energizing thalasso foot bath and peppermint sea salt scrub. Then the body is exfoliated with your choice of body scrub, followed by a Balinese massage. Your Mountain Ritual concludes with a relaxing saok in the jacuzzi.

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Hi Nick, I also am unable to see your pictures on your web site for some time. I thought It was my computer.I can’t remember the name of the spa in Ubud which is so very famous. I’ll ask I Gusti Agung tonight when he gets home from work (here in Seattle, WA) It simply skips my mind. However, since I have lived in Bali on and off since June of 1998 the one i am thinking is definitely is the most amazing one I have been to when I am there. I live up the street from the Tjampuhan Hotel. My future brother-in-law is one of the front desk manager’s at the hotel. His father is Ngurah KK famous artist an named sole protege of Arie Smit, famous artist in Camphuan, Ubud. Ngurah KK has a gallery on the same street as the Tjampuhan Hotel. The particular spa I was previously referring to has the most amazing gardens and jungle and massage people and the rooms are open to the jungle and the river. When you go there you feel that you definitely have stepped into paradise.

Hi Nick, I also am unable to see your pictures on your web site for some time. I thought It was my computer.I can\’t remember the name of the spa in Ubud which is so very famous. I\’ll ask I Gusti Agung tonight when he gets home from work (here in Seattle, WA) It simply skips my mind. However, since I have lived in Bali on and off since June of 1998 the one i am thinking is definitely is the most amazing one I have been to when I am there. I live up the street from the Tjampuhan Hotel. My future brother-in-law is one of the front desk manager\’s at the hotel. His father is Ngurah KK famous artist an named sole protege of Arie Smit, famous artist in Camphuan, Ubud. Ngurah KK has a gallery on the same street as the Tjampuhan Hotel. The particular spa I was previously referring to has the most amazing gardens and jungle and massage people and the rooms are open to the jungle and the river. When you go there you feel that you definitely have stepped into paradise.

My mind was correct, I guess I have some memory left, I just checked on the net and I was correct! The name of the spa is “UBUD SARI HEALTH SPA”. Check the web site out it truly, I believe has the ambience, tranquality, quality, beauty, and reputation. And the prices are very good. As I previously said, I have been to a few you mentioned; however, Ubud Sari ranks at the top of my list. Check it out. Perhaps you can advertize for them.